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Youth Prevention - TATU
Teens Against Tobacco Use (TATU), is a peer-education program in which middle and high school students are trained to teach elementary school students about the hazards of tobacco use.
A program that challenges teens to answer:
- Why has the tobacco industry spent over $100 million in Washington State alone advertising their product? And why are youth their main target?
- Why is tobacco, the only product on the market that used as intended will hurt or kill you, still legal?
- Why are cigarette ingredients not listed on the pack?
- How is tobacco the number one cause of preventable death?
TATU Newsletter
Read our current TATU Newsletter and discover what TATU teens in your area are doing.
What is currently happening around the state with TATU?
Project Awards
Project Award funds will be available in the Fall of 2009. Check back on October 1st for more information on how to apply.
Winners:
View our 2008-2009 TATU Project Award winners.
Teens Against Tobacco AbUse
The TATU program has been adapted to reflect the role of traditional tobacco use in Native American culture. Teens Against Tobacco AbUse helps tribal and urban Indian youth prevent the abuse of tobacco in their communities. For more information contact Cindy Thompson at cthompson@alaw.org or (509) 325-6516 .
The TATU program has also been adapted for Latino communities in Washington state. The adaptation incorporates the rich history of the Latino culture into a relevant tobacco prevention 
program for today's Latino youth. Some forms and activities have been translated into Spanish. For more information contact Cindy Thompson.
How can I implement TATU in my community/school?
In order to implement TATU, your community/school needs to send interested adult program facilitator(s) to an all-day training sponsored by the American Lung Association® in Washington.
We would need commitments for:
- One or two adult program facilitators, and
- One school program coordinator that would be in direct communication with the American Lung Association® (this person can be one of the facilitators).
Interested in becoming a TATU facilitator?
Fill out our registration form (for WA residents only) and a TATU coordinator from your region will contact you about the next training.
What does the adult TATU facilitator's training involve?
The adult facilitator's training includes:
- One TATU facilitator's manual and program packet (per facilitator)
- Copies of the program evaluation component
- A Certificate of Completion
- Support from the American Lung Association® office during program implementation
The adult TATU facilitator's training covers the following topics:
- Tobacco 101
- How to recruit TATU peer educators
- How to manage the TATU program and TATU peer educators
- How to develop an action plan and market TATU to elementary schools and community groups
- How to evaluate the effectiveness of the TATU program
What does the teen TATU facilitators training involve?
Using hands-on activities and plenty of interaction with the other teens, this training is fun, busy and exciting. It prepares youth to create their own tobacco prevention presentation for elementary school children. They get to be as creative as they want - posters, raps, skits, videos, game shows, etc.!
The youth training workshop agenda includes:
- Welcome and Introductions
- Community Building
- TATU Overview
- Learning about your Audience
- Risk Awareness
- Video Time
- Truth in Advertising
- Using the Facts
- Planning Presentations
- Developing an Action Plan
Upcoming TATU trainings:
Date Location Contact
| October 2, 2009 | Dayton Middle School | Cheryl McDonald |
| October 15, 2009 | Arlington, WA | Monica Nelson |
| October 21, 2009 | Yakima, WA | Jackie Diaz |
| October 26, 2009 | Oak Harbor, WA | Monica Nelson |
| November 3 & 5, 2009 | Peninsula High School | Cristal Connelly |
| November 4, 2009 | Evergreen Elementary, Evergreen, WA | Monica Nelson |
| November 9, 2009 | Oak Harbor Hills, Oak Harbor, WA | Monica Nelson |
| November 11, 2009 | Yakima, WA | Jackie Diaz |
| November 12, 2009 | Lynwood High School, Lynwood, WA | Monica Nelson |
| November 13, 2009 | Mary Walker High School, Springdale, WA | Cheryl McDonald |
| November 16, 2009 | LaConner Middle School, Laconner, WA | Monica Nelson |
| November 16-17, 2009 | Clarkston, WA | Cheryl McDonald |
| November 18, 2009 | YMCA, Yakima, WA | |
| November 18, 2009 | Curtis Jr. High (University Place) | Cristal Connelly |
| November 19, 2009 | Pacific County | Colleen Wahto |
| November 24, 2009 | Spokane Tribe, Wellpinit Longhouse, Wellpinit, WA | Cheryl McDonald |
| December 9, 2009 | Granger, WA | Jackie Diaz |
| December 9, 2009 | Kalispel Tribe, Tribal Wellness Center, Usk, WA | Cheryl McDonald |
| December 16, 2009 | YMCA, Yakima, WA | Jackie Diaz |
| December 17, 2009 | Kettle Falls Middle School, Colville, WA | Cheryl McDonald |
| January 6-7, 2010 | Columbia High School | |
| February 2, 2010 | Clark County Training, ESD 112 | Colleen Wahto |
| February 10, 2010 | ESD 123, Pasco, WA | Jackie Diaz |
The trainings listed above have been independently scheduled and are intended for only those schools and/or school districts listed. To schedule a training for your school or community group, please contact the TATU Coordinator listed below from your area. Back to top.
Become a TATU Coordinator
For more information please contact your local TATU coordinator:
| Cheryl McDonald | Eastern WA |
| Jackie Diaz | South Central |
| Hailey Croci | North Central |
| Monica Nelson | Western WA |
| Cristal Connelly | South Puget Sound |
| Colleen Wahto | Southwest WA |
Washington’s Tobacco Control Report Card Grades Mixed
